Photo by Tim Mossholder for Unsplash

​​Father's Day is just around the corner, and what better way to celebrate the creative genius in your dad's heart than by surprising him with a thoughtful and unique gift? If your dad is an artist, a writer, a musician, or simply someone who appreciates the beauty of creativity, we've got you covered. In this blog post, we'll explore some fantastic Father's Day gift ideas that are sure to inspire and ignite your dad's artistic spirit. Let's dive in!

Art Supplies Galore:
For the dad who loves to paint, draw, or sculpt, consider treating him to a selection of high-quality art supplies. Choose a set of premium paints, brushes, canvases, or sketchbooks. You can also explore unique mediums such as pastels, charcoal, or watercolors. If your dad has a specific interest or style, tailor the supplies to suit his preferences. The gift of art supplies will encourage him to explore new techniques and unleash his creativity.
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Inspiring Books:
Books are a treasure trove of inspiration for creatives. Consider gifting your dad a collection of books that align with his creative pursuits. For writers, you can choose books on storytelling, writing prompts, or literary classics. If your dad is an artist, look for books featuring the works of his favorite painters, photography techniques, or books on art history. These books will not only provide guidance but also serve as a source of inspiration for your dad's creative journey.

Unique Workspaces and Organizers:
Every creative person needs a dedicated workspace to nurture their ideas. Help your dad revamp his creative corner by gifting him unique organizers and storage solutions. Consider a stylish desk organizer to keep his art supplies tidy or a wall-mounted shelf to showcase his favorite creations. You can also explore ergonomic chairs, adjustable easels, or even a portable drawing board. These gifts will enhance his comfort and productivity, making his creative process even more enjoyable.

Creative Workshops or Classes:
If your dad is eager to expand his artistic skills, consider enrolling him in a creative workshop or class. Look for local art studios, writing groups, or music schools that offer classes in his area of interest. Whether it's painting, photography, writing, or playing a musical instrument, these workshops provide valuable opportunities to learn from experts and connect with like-minded individuals. The gift of a creative class will not only enhance your dad's skills but also provide him with a platform to explore his passion.

Personalized Gifts:
For a truly special touch, consider personalized gifts that celebrate your dad's creative journey. Engrave his name on a set of customized art tools or create a personalized photo book featuring his artwork. You could also commission a custom piece of artwork or a song dedicated to him. These personalized gifts will not only show your thoughtfulness but also remind him of the love and support he has in pursuing his creative endeavors.

This Father's Day, go beyond the ordinary and surprise your creative dad with a gift that speaks to his artistic soul. Whether it's art supplies, inspiring books, unique workspaces, creative workshops, or personalized gifts, your thoughtfulness will surely ignite his passion for creativity. Celebrate his unique talents and let him know that you appreciate his artistic spirit. With these unique Father's Day gifts, you're bound to make this day truly memorable for your creative dad.

​Photo by Nubelson Fernandes on Unsplash

​As adults, we don’t always allow ourselves time to reflect on life and the thoughts and feelings that go along with it. Unfortunately, this lack of self-care can have a negative impact on your mental health which also impacts creativity. Much like the diary you kept under your bed as a teen, your journal or morning pages can be a safe haven, a place where you can gain clarity and control of your daily emotions instead of letting them rule your life. Once you allow journaling to become a habit, it can have a profound effect on your mental health and can help unblock your creative fllow. Here are 4 unexpected ways that journaling can transform your mental health and improve your creative life. 

Sleep Better: Getting a more restful night’s sleep is just one way that journaling can benefit your mental health. It’s common to carry a load of worry and stress to bed without even realizing you’re doing it. As your head hits the pillow, every problem and concern from the previous day comes to light making it impossible to sleep. When you start journaling or begin a morning pages practice and brain dump your problems, thoughts and feelings onto paper, it takes the weight off your shoulders and your mind, even if it’s only for the night. Pushing pause on those troublesome thoughts racing through your head can greatly improve how fast (and how well) you sleep each night. 

Self-Expression: Each and every person has a unique inner voice that sometimes gets lost in this crazy chaos called life. By hiding your feelings, not speaking your mind and consistently meetings other’s expectations over your own, you put yourself at risk of forgetting who and what you really are. Journaling can get you back on track by helping you dig deep and awaken a part of yourself that you’d long forgotten – feelings, emotions, likes, dislikes, dreams, goals and so much more. However, it’s not going to happen overnight - the key is to keep writing. Don’t censor yourself and don’t hold back from any thoughts or feelings that keep coming to the surface. Be transparent about your experiences and let your journal be a safe haven for your deepest desires and biggest dreams. Have some patience and you’ll find your way back to YOU in no time. 

Reduce Anxiety: If you’ve struggled with anxiety in the past, you know it can be debilitating when it comes to everyday life. Picking up the habit of journaling can be a great way to manage stress and relieve any anxious thoughts and feelings that come your way. Anxious feeling are often fueled by the uncertainly of what will happen, not so much by what is happening in the present moment. By writing down your worries, stressors, and fears you can delve into them at a deeper level and examine what is really going on beneath the surface.  This will help you challenge your thoughts, explore your true options and finally begin to flip the switch on your thinking so you can have a different outlook. Instead of letting anxiety rule you, get it off your chest, out of your head and onto paper. This is the perfect way to take back control and start living life on your own terms. 

Increase your Optimism: We live in a world where it’s easy to fall victim to the gloom and doom mentality without even realizing it. We take little things for granted and don’t give nearly enough credit to how beautiful our lives really are. Journaling can help you do just that. Putting pen to paper is a powerful way to shift your perspective and remind you to focus on the good in your life rather than the bad. Take time each day to write about a positive experience or simply take note of a couple things you’re grateful for. By doing this consistently, your journal will become a source of positive energy, a place where you can visit even on the worst of days to bring a smile to your face. 

Journaling can benefit you in more ways than one, especially when it comes to maintaining strong mental health and opening to your creative self expression. Putting pen to paper can set in motion a mindset shift that will positively impact your life for years to come. 

Image: Me at a local gallery in March 2022, where both of my artworks sold.l

​In 2022, I had one of my best years yet regarding reaching my creative goals.  In one year, I was able to reach some creative milestones that I never was able to otherwise.  I realize that this year was a bit unusual but then I realize that because I took time to actually set my creative goals instead of leaving everything to the wind, I was able to make and exceed my goals with my creative life this year. 

This year I am able to celebrate that:

• My work was featured in four group art exhibitions (two juried), one of which two of my artworks sold, and two of my artworks was used to promote the exhibitions by the host;
• Four of my poems were officially published in a anthology featuring women poets  (which officially be launched in 2023);
• My art has been published in a local art center's 2023 calendar featuring the art of other members.
• I completed my first draft of my book for midlife creatives. 

How did I do it?

There were a few things I did early in 2022 that helped me establish and stay focused on my goals.  Here's a few of them:

1. Established "My Why":  I established what my "why" would be for my creativity in 2022.  This was the basis for all I did creatively in 2022.
2. Visualization:  I envisioned how I wanted to show up as a creative in 2022.   I thought about what I wanted to accomplish and how I wanted to feel as a result.
3. Intentions:  After I visualized what I wanted, I set intentions.  I used those intentions to create a mandala vision board to visually represent what I wanted to accomplish.
4. Set Goals:  Based on what I wanted to achieve, I set goals based on due dates for submission dates for my art or poetry.  I worked hard to reach these goals and was able to make all submission dates on time.  
5. Prioritize My Creative Life:  I made time as a appropriate to make my creativity a priority when it made sense to.
6. Micro-Movements:  I set tasks and steps to reach my goals in small steps without overwhelming myself.  If there was no progress, I didn't punish myself.  I allowed myself space to enable my muse to inspire and direct me to what I needed to do when I needed to do it. 
7. Support:  I had colleagues that helped me stay accountable to my goals.  Whether it was individuals or a creative community, I had reminders that helped me as guideposts along the way.

​Let Me Show You How You Can Do It

Did your schedule prevent you from reaching your creative goals this year?
Do you have the urge to start pursuing your creativity but been holding back due to fear?
Not sure how to make your creative goals happen in 2023?

No matter how creative or "un-creative" you consider yourself to be, there's always room for inspiration and improvement.

If you are an artist, writer, author, creative, maker and 2022 left you a little exhausted and uninspired, join me for a fun and engaging workshop where we will:

Get clear on your creative "whys"
Cover a few tips and practices to "spark" your creativity
Help you find time and ways to get your creative practice in during the day or week.
Develop a strategic plan to get you going creatively for 2023

​This workshop will be offered on January 8th.  Register by January 7th to be able to receive all materials.  Materials including a workbook will be sent out prior to the event. We will gather on Zoom and a link will be sent within 24 hours of the workshop. 

EXTRA BONUS: You have the option to meet with me for one-to-one coaching for the new year as well!
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Join me by clicking the button below and let's get going on making some wonderful creative dreams a reality in 2023!